My name is BJ Macatulad. On October 30, 2022, I will be taking part in the Pink Ribbon

Walk in Christchurch, New Zealand, to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer

prevention and treatment for indigent women, as well as to celebrate being a recent

breast cancer Thriver myself.

In August 2021, while living in Shanghai, I learned I had breast cancer. I was fortunate

enough to have received my diagnosis early and to have had access to the most up-to-

date breast cancer treatments available. I was very lucky. By contrast, in the

Philippines, 3 out of every 100 women will contract breast cancer before the age of 75

and many of them will be diagnosed too late or will not have the financial means to avail

of life-saving treatments. Please help me to help those women.

All the funds that I raise will be donated to Kasuso, or the Philippine Foundation for

Breast Cancer, which operates and manages a breast care center in a public hospital

located at East Avenue Medical Centre in Quezon City, Manila. Founded in 2000,

Kasuso’s breast cancer programs include Bantay Bukol (“lump alert”), which provides

free breast screening; Bigay Buhay (“give life”) for funding surgical and oncological

services; and Boobie Botika (“boob pharmacy”), which facilitates access to affordable

chemo drugs, medicines and supplies, just to name a few. Cheeky names for very

serious boobie business!

I believe there will come a time when there will be zero deaths from breast cancer. The

key is early detection, education and access to treatment. Please help Kasuso in their

quest to give less fortunate women a fighting chance against breast cancer by

supporting me at the Pink Ribbon Walk. Any donations and re-sharing would be greatly

appreciated!